Carnival Cruise

Is splurging on a Carnival suite worth the cost?

The answer varies. With Carnival's suites often costing over double the price of a standard inside cabin, it's not just about the extra space. You need to weigh whether the perks will add to your Carnival cruise experience. Otherwise, you might be better off booking a balcony cabin and spending money on other add-ons. 

A Carnival drink package allows you to indulge in a fixed number of alcoholic beverages per day of your cruise for a set price, so you do not have to worry about purchasing each drink á la carte. 

They are one of the most popular cruise add-ons for a reason! Of course, if you are not a big drinker, you may not get your money's worth. Maybe you would rather splurge on some once-in-a-lifetime shore excursions or a nicer stateroom. 

Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line are the two biggest mainstream cruise lines in the industry with millions of passengers setting sail onboard these competing lines each year.

Each cruise line adds their own special flair to the cruising experience. This is how they differentiate from one another in the competitive travel market. Royal Caribbean is known for building mega-ships with onboard thrills and dazzling entertainment, while Carnival places a heavy focus on fun, casual dining, and creating a lively atmosphere onboard.

Packing for a cruise can be stressful for some. Maybe you've combed through every packing list you can find but are still worried about packing the wrong attire of forgetting something important. This can be especially true for first-time cruisers, or even if you are trying a new-to-you cruise line.

To keep things simple, I almost exclusively travel with just a carry-on, even for 7-night cruises. I find that this simplifies my travel immensely.

Carnival Cruise Line is known for having some of the best food in the industry. While you might not enjoy gourmet meals during your Carnival sailing, you can find some incredibly delicious dining options from freshly-made pizza to juicy burgers, zesty tacos and crispy chicken sandwiches.

Last fall, I set sail onboard Carnival Celebration for one of the ship’s first inaugural cruises.

Sailing in an inside cabin might not be the most glamorous option on a cruise ship, but these tiny staterooms are both practical and affordable. Although I love splurging on a balcony stateroom when possible, I typically reserve an interior stateroom when I cruise because of the budget-friendly price tag.

Back in August 2022, I set sail on Carnival Cruise Line for the first time in my adult life. A quick getaway from Mobile, Alabama, which is just 1.5 hours from my house, was an eye-opening experience to the cruise line, to say the least.

Carnival Celebration and Mardi Gras are the newest and biggest ships in Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet. Both Carnival Celebration and Mardi Gras are in the Excel class, with Carnival Jubilee joining them in December 2023.

Carnival Celebration and Mardi Gras offer more fun than ever before; after all, that is part of their brand! The Excel class of ships are 40% larger than all the other Carnival ships, meaning there is a huge variety of venues, restaurants, bars, and more for guests to enjoy.